THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 21 



of half-ripe wood taken off close to the stem, and shortened to four 

 joints each. These cuttings are to be planted in pure silver sand, 

 covered with bell-glasses and plunged in heat. If bell-glasses are not 

 available, allow sufficient space between the rim of the pot and the sur- 

 face of the sand to plant the cuttings with their tops lower than the 

 level of the rim, and lay squares of common window glass over; this 

 answers as well as bell-glasses, and to prevent damping it is only neces- 

 sary to turn the glasses upside down every morning. When bell- 

 glasses are used, they should be taken off every morning, be wiped dry, 

 and replaced, and in dull weather should be kept off a few hours at a 

 time. As soon as the cuttings have rooted pot them off in sandy peat, 

 and plunge in a brisk heat until they have filled the pots with roots, 

 then shift to the next size, using sandy peat with one-fourth part of 

 loam added. At the next potting use the soil recommended for old 

 plants, to which also their treatment may be assimilated. 



Treatment for Flowering. — None of the Rondeletias will 

 thrive in a temperature lower than 60°, and a luxuriant growth and 

 abundant bloom cannot be secured in a lower average temperature than 

 70°. During summer the temperature may range from 65° to 90°, during 

 winter 50" to 60°. The soil best suited to them is a mixture of one- 

 half hazel loam and one-half sandy peat, to which add one- sixth of the 

 whole bulk of pounded bricks. In potting use plenty of drainage, care- 

 fully packed and covered with a layer of moss to prevent the fine earth 

 running down amongst it. Overpotting is most injurious, and it is only 

 by a regular course of accumulative potting, using at each stage pots 

 only one size larger than the last, that a satisfactory bloom can be ob- 

 tained. The best time to pot is immediately after they have done flower- 

 ing, but if needful they may be shifted six weeks before flowering, but 

 never on any account later. In the case of repotting old plants with 

 matted roots, a little time must be bestowed in loosening the roots with 

 a pointed stick, and removing some of the old soil from amongst them ; 

 if the outside mat of roots is removed with a knife, the plant may not 

 recover for a whole season. Pot firm and encourage new growth by 

 gentle bottom-heat. 



When coming into bloom they require plenty of water both over 

 head and at the roots ; indeed the leaves may be sprinkled three times 

 a week all the summer, much to the benefit of the plants. 



Training. — Rondeletias are usually trained on wire balloons, in 

 the same way as Dipladenias, and that method displays the blossoms 

 very effectually. But as some sort of training is needful, we do occa- 

 sionally see specimens tortured into indescribable forms, and the blos- 

 soms consequently exhibited at a disadvantage. JR. speciosa major never 

 looks so well as when its dazzling orange red blossoms hang freely and 

 naturally, and for this purpose it is only needful to support the plant 

 by means of stakes, or wirework, a height of eighteen inches, and then 

 allow the branches to fall over and produce pendulous bunches of 

 flowers. When in bloom the temperature should be slightly re- 

 duced, and the blossoms will continue in perfection a long time. 



